Mentor/Tormentor

Two very good friends, Arun and Ajay met each other after 6 months. Both of them qualified for higher training into a surgical specialty. They were elated to see each other after a long time and started discussing about how their training was going on.

‘I’m so happy, I never knew I could operate with such clarity in my mind,’ said Arun. ‘My mentor makes me feel comfortable, shares sound knowledge about different treatment modalities, approaches, and he teaches me the importance of being patient-centric’ he continued. Ajay kept listening.

‘I feel that the surgeon in me is getting gradually unlocked and I feel more confident now, in spite of some human errors on my part’ Arun couldn’t stop sharing his happiness. ‘What about you?’ he asked Ajay.

‘I feel that my confidence is going down with each day’ Ajay replied ‘I feel intimidated in the operating theatre by my mentor, and I’m not given the freedom to operate. Even if there was an opportunity, I’m constantly subjected to restlessness of my boss. He gives the scalpel to me, only to snatch it from my hand within 2 minutes. I wonder what’s going on!’ looking obviously dejected.

Arun felt sorry for Ajay. ‘After years of hard work and commitment, it is sad to see you ending up with such an unpleasant mentor’ he said.

Not knowing what to say, Ajay replied ‘you got a mentor, I got a tormentor’

Both of them burst into laughter and continued with their discussion.

A mentor is someone who instills sound knowledge, confidence and ability to cope up with failures in life or in surgical career. Mentor is the catalyst who has the potential to transform a seemingly dull student into a bright and confident man. A mentor says ‘Go ahead! I have your back’

A tormentor on the other hand, can crush whatever confidence the student has on himself. A tormentor constantly ridicules and makes a student feel worthless.

If life gives a chance, try to be a mentor, not a tormentor!